Conciliation Process for Air India Express Cabin Crew Dispute Seeks DGCA Input

The ongoing dispute between Air India Express management and a section of its cabin crew has led to the involvement of the regional labour commissioner, who is now seeking insights from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This step is part of the conciliation process under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, aimed at resolving the issues raised by the cabin crew, including concerns over room sharing during layovers.

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Tata Group, which owns the profitable Air India Express, is in the midst of merging it with the loss-making AIX Connect, previously known as AirAsia India. Amidst this backdrop, over 90 flights have been cancelled since Tuesday night due to a sick leave protest by a section of the cabin crew, highlighting alleged mismanagement within the airline. Air India Express has acknowledged these disruptions and is striving to mitigate their impact.

The dispute initially came to light last year when a union representing some cabin crew members approached the labour department with various grievances. These concerns have now led to an official conciliation process. The involvement of DGCA, as communicated by the regional labour commissioner last week, underscores the complexity of the issues at hand, which also include service contract curtailments and assessments among others.

In November 2023, the Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU) reached out to civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, voicing their grievances. The airline responded by stating that the integration process with AIX Connect necessitates policy and practice alignments across both entities. According to Air India Express, sharing rooms during layovers is a common practice in the industry, both in India and other regions.

The Regional Labour Commissioner Central, operating under the Office of the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner C in New Delhi, plays a crucial role in this conciliation process. As both parties navigate through these discussions, the aim is to find a resolution that addresses the cabin crew's concerns while ensuring operational efficiency and safety standards as per aviation regulations.